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  3. Expressing "about to" with 就要 ("jiu4yao4")

Expressing "about to" with 就要 ("jiu4yao4")

就 jiùyào

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

(Subj. +) 就要 + Verb + 了 (，⋯⋯) 还有 + Time (+ Subj.) + 就 (要) + Verb + 了

Translations

  • about

Definition

表示动作或状态即将发生或变化。

Indicates that an action or state is about to happen or change.

Usage

通常与“了”连用，构成“就要...了”结构，强调事情即将发生。后面可接时间词语或动词短语。

Usually used with '了' to form the '就要...了' structure, emphasizing that something is about to happen. It can be followed by a time expression or verb phrase.

Examples

  • 1 火车就要开了。 (The train is about to depart.)
  • 2 他就要大学毕业了。 (He is about to graduate from university.)
  • 3 天就要黑了，我们快走吧。 (It's about to get dark, let's hurry.)
  • 4 电影就要开始了，我们快进去吧。 (The movie is about to start, let's go in quickly.)
  • 5 我就要完成作业了。 (I am about to finish my homework.)

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